Owls Full Weekend Sweep – Rice College Athletics

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Rice volleyball closed out the weekend with a 3-0 sweep of Memphis on Sunday at Elma Roane Fieldhouse.

Rice (7-8, 3-1 American) earned its second sweep of the weekend, holding Memphis (9-9, 1-3 American) to a .098 hitting share.

Taylor Preston led the Owls with 12 kills, whereas freshman Aaliyah Smith added 10. Arissa Smith and Kaia Mateo every recorded 5 blocks.

Mateo additionally led the group with 31 assists. Gaby Mansfield and Stephanie Gutierrez shared the group excessive in digs with 11 apiece.

Postgame Reaction – Head Coach Genny Volpe
“Proud of the team pulling out two sweeps on the road. This conference is tough, so any sweep is a sign you are doing something right. I thought Taylor Preston led this team all weekend and Kaia Mateo continues to connect and get stronger every time she’s on the court.”
 

HOW IT HAPPENED

First Set
Rice got here out dominant within the opening set, outperforming Memphis throughout the board. The Owls posted a powerful .522 hitting share whereas holding the Tigers to only .087. Taylor Preston led the cost with six of Rice’s 14 kills within the set, serving to safe a robust begin.
 
Second Set
Memphis responded early within the second set, leaping out to a 9-2 lead. However, Rice answered with a season-best 9-0 run, highlighted by Preston ace, to take an 11-9 lead. The set remained tightly contested earlier than the Owls pulled away for a 25-21 win. A key issue within the set was the front-line protection, with Mateo and Arissa Smith combining for 3 blocks.
 
Third Set
The Owls as soon as once more took management early, sparked by a 4-0 run capped by a Lademi Ogunlana kill. Rice by no means trailed within the set, closing it out with a Kayla Patel kill for a 25-16 victory. Defensively, the Owls restricted the Tigers to a .088 hitting share, whereas hitting .286 themselves to finish the sweep.
 

UP NEXT
Rice will host South Florida on Friday earlier than touring to UTSA on Sunday. Both matches will likely be streamed on ESPN+.